Tag: <span>letting go</span>

Letting Go and Pressing On
Published January 4, 2022

Letting Go and Pressing On

How do we move on when our spirits have been wounded, or our families disrupted?

“…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

Theater critic, Brooks Atkinson, once said, “Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect.” Drop, let go, forget – that’s easier said than done. People, events, and circumstances of this past year—perhaps past years—continue to nag at us. Disappointments, betrayals, and losses creep into our minds to disturb the peace that God promises.

How do we move on when our spirits have been wounded, or our families disrupted?

Several words used by the apostle Paul give us clues about the process so necessary for forward movement. First there is the word “focus,” meaning to concentrate on. Instead of allowing our thoughts to meander into the morass of the past, we choose to deliberately think of the future. This in no way means denial, but rather a purposeful action involving looking ahead to what God may have in store.

What about “forget”? This word has within it the idea of neglect, e.g., giving less weight to what has happened in the past, refusing to dwell on those things that disturb our peace and threaten the future God has planned for us.

And then there is “press on.” Here I imagine a runner, surrounded by competitors, just about to cross the finish line. The race has been long, the runner is almost exhausted and she finally sees the ribbon extended across her path. Determined to win the race and knowing that any part of her body must cross that ribbon in order for victory to be declared, she stretches out her arms—she presses on.

This is not a once-a-year process, but rather a daily examination of the hours just past and the glorious future of the day ahead. The heavenly prize is definitely within reach. Let go. Press on.

Question: How has God helped you move beyond hurt and into forgiveness and freedom?

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

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Further Reading

•   A New Year Perspective

•   A Time to Dream

•  Salvation Explained

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thoughts by Marilyn Ehle Thoughts by Women

Letting Go
Published September 21, 2020

Letting Go

“Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].”
Proverbs 16:3 (AMP)

Self-effort has been one of my greatest struggles — I have always been wrapped up in my performance. Everything had to be done to the point of perfection. In my mind, being perfect was the only way for people to like me and accept me. I didn’t feel valued otherwise. Sadly, this is a trap that many people find themselves in.

Upon accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I learned I could be content resting in His love for me, and I could rely on His grace in my times of weaknesses. It is through His empowerment that I could face any challenge that arises daily.

Do I always get it all right? No, absolutely not. I still get a big head at times, but the gentle nudges from the Holy Spirit often help to bring me back to reality. He reminds me that self-reliance is an enemy to God — it’s where pride begins. And I never want to take God’s place in my own life.

Are you struggling with letting go of the reigns in your own life today? I encourage you to commit your ways to Him. When you begin to trust yourself to His unfailing love, you will find that He will never let you down. You may not always agree with the way He does everything, but you can trust His heart towards us. His plan is to do you good and not evil and to give you an expected end.

Father, we take so much pride in doing what we know is best. We get lost in our own ability and neglect the help You have freely given. Teach us to value Your grace in our everyday life. Teach us to recognize the grace You have given us to accomplish what You have called us to. I pray that every day we will commit our works to You so that You will establish our thoughts. May our eyes be open to the countless rewards that await us when we do it Your way and not our own. In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

Fully Surrender to the Lord

My Search for Inner Peace

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thoughts by Mary Pinckney Thoughts by Women